“This may bring mutual understanding on campus,” he said. “People have their general assumptions about Muslims, and this is creating interest to see what we’re doing to break down stereotypes in terms of ‘what’s Muslim.’”

On Saturday, the Poetic Vision Tour traveled to (SCENE) Metrospace to perform an Arabic-based concert to help bridge the gap between Muslims and other religions, cultures and ethnicities. The concert featured vocalist and guitarist Raef, as well as Saad Omar, who examined the meaning of the lyrics in an interactive form, asking the audience for their interpretations and analysis after each song.

This year, the Social Science Research Council awarded $100,000 to MSU’s Muslim Studies Program and Asian Studies Center to create Migrations of Islam, a yearlong project aiming to dispel the negative image many have of Muslim individuals. The Muslim Studies Program invited the Poetic Vision Tour to perform to help in its mission by connecting to audiences of different backgrounds through music.

“What connects us is our love for music and also a hope to return to poetic and lyrically conscious music,” Omar said. “Our purpose isn’t to write music (that is) so rationalistic or planned but (is) inspired.”

Salah Hassan, associate professor of English and a core faculty member in the Muslim Studies Program, said because of events such as the Poetic Vision Tour concert, the project has been effective so far.

“I really try to keep in touch with what’s happening in the Muslim community,” he said. “We’re reaching other communities that wouldn’t have otherwise known about or come out to events like this. We’re providing a good service, and we’ve been really successful.”

Throughout the night, the performers discussed with the audience a series of topics, such as the implications of mental slavery and what society places on pedestals and deems most important.

Aside from encouraging thought, Omar said the band also hopes to cultivate artistic expression in beginning writers.

“If we want to have a real cultural renaissance, especially in the Muslim community, we want to help more of the mass (public) get involved in creating art,” he said. “That’s why we’re doing this.”

Opening for Omar and Raef was Lansing-based band Wisaal. The six-member group performed with a variety of traditional Middle Eastern instruments, including a mandolin, an upright bass, a frame drum and a clarinet. Wisaal also featured unusual instruments, such as a cajón, which is a box-shaped percussion instrument, and an oud, which is a pear-shaped stringed instrument similar to a guitar.

Tim Patterson, Wisaal’s bassist, said the traditional Arabic pieces provide something most American orchestral music cannot.

“I love this type of music because of its rhythmic variety,” he said. “Also, the communication found within the group while playing, it’s not the same as being in a (traditional) ensemble.”

Psychology junior Erin O’Connor said she felt the concert was not only a great form of artistic expression, but a way to incite understanding among cultures.

“We have such a diverse community, even on MSU’s campus, and it’s great to see people with different backgrounds working together,” she said. “How will anything even get done in this world if we don’t work together?”